Fogden sees plenty to play for

Jordan Cross

POMPEY fans’ hearts and minds are up for grabs. And so are their wallets.

That, and keeping the Blues feel-good factor going is what it’s all about now for Wes Fogden.

His team may be safe in League Two, but the midfield grafter is demanding there is no let up over the campaign finale.

The optimism of the Trust era beginning in earnest was behind over 10,000 season tickets being sold for this season.

Despite the tumultuous campaign, that feeling has returned under Andy Awford’s stewardship.

That was witnessed with a crowd of 17,998, the second biggest of the season, turning out for the win over Bristol Rovers last weekend.

Now Fogden wants to see the sense of unity at the club continue, as Pompey followers weigh up whether to renew their tickets next term.

He said: ‘We’ve had a few more fans come along for the past five games.

‘And attendances at Fratton Park have been fantastic.

‘Since the new manager has come in results have picked up.

‘So hopefully we can secure the fans’ support for next season.

‘They will always show their support and hopefully we can pull together as a football club, rather than managers, team and players being divided. We want to be in it together and do it for each other.’

Fogden can see the importance of a strong end to the season when it comes to off-the-pitch affairs.

But that is a sentiment echoed on it for the 25-year-old.

Pompey go to Bury looking to equal their six-game winning run of 2011 under Steve Cotterill.

Fogden feels there will be a benefit to the positive vibes continuing ahead of the players’ return for pre-season training in July.

He said: ‘Hopefully there will be no let up now.

‘We want to go out on a high and win as many as we can.

‘If we can win six and seven it sets us up for next season.

‘When we got back-to-back wins I heard it was the first time it’d happened for over a year.

‘If we can win six or seven it is a great achievement and great end to the season.

‘If we do well in the next couple of games the confidence will be flying when we come back in. You are raring to go.

‘It’ll be a nice break in the summer and then we can kick on from this season and take it on.’

Even if optimism is high as the season ends, Fogden is staying coy when it comes to ambitions moving forward.

But the former Bournemouth man has seen the benefit of belief coursing through his team ahead of the trip to Gigg Lane.

He said: ‘We have to look to push on next season.

‘From what I’ve seen in the last five games that confidence is so high.

‘We think we can beat anyone now.

‘So we aren’t going to make too many assumptions and put too much pressure on ourselves.

‘Even at the end of this season it’s a game at a time and get the three points.